Travel Eye on Philadelphia (Pennsylvania, USA)

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Overview:

One of the oldest cities in the US, Philadelphia played a key role in the nation's founding. It was here that the Declaration of Independence was signed in July 1776 and the Constitution drafted in 1787; for a brief spell, it was even the nation's capital.

Today it is the fifth largest city in the US, measuring roughly 22 by 17 mls; much of interest to the tourist, however, is contained within a small area in the city centre, which measures 2½ by 1 mls. Here, sleek, modern skyscrapers stand among historical old buildings and charming, little cobbled streets intersect wide, bustling avenues.

Philadelphia's more than 150 distinct districts have earned it the nickname "City of the Neighbourhoods". Society Hill is the city's original residential area, with hundreds of restored 18th-century houses; the Parkway/Museum district is filled with architectural and cultural treasures and, just to the S, around Rittenhouse Square, is a choice of upmarket shopping and dining.

There's also a rich ethnic diversity, evident in the animated Italian market, vibrant African-American festivals, Chinatown and the nearby Amish communities. The city also boasts lots of green areas, among them Fairmount Park, stretching for 8,700 acres along the banks of the Schuylkill River.

This city is especially for those who appreciate architecture, American history, museums and the benefits of a mid-size city.

The accommodation here offers a wide variety, from luxurious to moderate. There are over 10,000 hotel rooms in the city centre alone. Just outside the city, there are numerous B&Bs which provide reasonably priced accommodation.

Locality:

Philadelphia is in the south east corner of the north east state of Pennsylvania. (75 mls SW of New York City; 160 mls NE of Washington, DC. Philadelphia International Airport is 8 mls SW of the city centre). It is situated on reasonably flat land at the confluence of the Schuylkill and Delaware rivers, and surrounded by gentle green hills.

Entertainment/Facilities/Attractions/Things to do:

Philadelphia is a shopper's dream come true. Antiques, artwork and gift shops, boutiques, craft emporiums, upmarket clothing outlets and gourmet food markets abound. There are a handful of quality department stores. The historical shopping area of Philadelphia Bourse has a wide range of speciality shops.

During the daytime there are lots of fine old historical homes. The Liberty Bell. Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution were signed. The late 19th-century City Hall. The impressive Masonic Temple. The Academy of Natural Sciences has an outstanding exhibit on dinosaurs. The Franklin Institute Science Museum.

There are various sports activities in Fairmount Park. The Home games of the Phillies (baseball) and Eagles (American football). Polo. For the culturally minded there is the The Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania. The Philadelphia Zoo. Lots of tours by foot, boat, bus, carriage or trolley.

The nightlife here offers the Philadelphia Orchestra (one of the country's finest symphonies), opera nights, and the Pennsylvania Ballet. There are summer concerts on the Great Plaza. The Forrest Theater for pre-Broadway and hit shows. There is also the National touring companies perform at the Annenberg Center and the Merriman Theatre. Discos, comedy and music clubs clustered mainly in the popular Penn's Landing area, near the downtown waterfront.

Philadelphia is a real restaurant town, with fashionable restaurants scattered throughout the city centre, the suburbs and out on the Main Line, where the wealthy still live on rolling estates. There are Ethnic areas, especially Chinatown and the Italian section in S Philly, provide delicious, inexpensive cuisine; you can also sample Cajun, Southwestern, Pennsylvanian and colonial-era fare; Japanese, Indian, Moroccan, Brazilian and vegetarian. Middle Eastern, Greek, French, Spanish and Mexican restaurants on the increasingly trendy South Street.